E39 M5

Introduced in 1998 at the Geneva Motor Show, production did not begin until late October of that year. A total of 20,482 E39 M5s were made from 1999 to 2003. BMW M division produced four versions of the E39 M5, the American LHD (Left Hand Drive), European RHD versions, and the North American specification version.

The E39 M5 had a highly tuned V8 engine based on the M62 called the S62, which displaced 4.9 litres and produced 394 hp. The engine featured a 7000 rpm redline, Double-VANOS, which varies the intake and exhaust valves for both cylinder banks, and individual throttle butterflies for each of the cylinders, allowing for a much faster engine response time. The design and engineering in the S62 engine are works of art in themselves. This is engine design at its best and built to with the best of materials to the closest of tolerances.

The official BMW of North America statement for the acceleration time from 0-60 mph is 4.6s. Official statements from BMW are typically conservative and many reviewers claim to have achieved this under 4.5 seconds. It is electronically limited to a top speed of (155 mph)[1], making it the fastest 4-door sedan in the world at the time it was manufactured. Once delimited, top speeds of 181 mph are possible.